Sebastian Walcott’s rise has been remarkably fast for his age.

As the Texas Rangers’ top signee of the 2023 international draft class, the 18-year-old from the Bahamas has already reached High-A Hickory and is ranked as the Rangers’ No. 1 overall prospect by MLB Pipeline.

During All-Star Weekend, the Rangers featured Walcott prominently. He started as the shortstop for the AL team in the MLB Futures game and participated in the inaugural MLB Futures Skills Competition.

In the home clubhouse at Globe Life Field, his locker was strategically placed in a corner, giving him space as media swarmed the area before the game. He had ample room for his belongings, including a guitar case he received as a gift, though he doesn’t play guitar.

Walcott’s smile and maturity set him apart from most 18-year-olds. He understands that this could be his future locker room but is in no rush to get there.

“I try not to think about it (the big leagues) too much, the front office or the moves they make,” Walcott said. “I’m not going to rush the process. I have a lot of time to develop.”

Walcott is the No. 72 ranked prospect in baseball and while another Rangers prospect, pitcher Emiliano Teodo, stole the show with two perfect innings for the AL team, Walcott went 0-for-2 at the plate.

But since he signed with the Rangers 18 months ago, he’s moved fast. He started last year in the Dominican Summer League and played well enough to move stateside to join the Arizona Complex League Rangers and take a few at-bats with Hickory. Combined he slashed .246/.335/.471/.806 with seven home runs and 24 RBI.

The Rangers kept him at Hickory to start this season and his slash numbers have dropped a bit — .235/.333/.401/.734. But the power is still there, with seven home runs and 27 RBI. He also has 11 stolen bases. Plate discipline has been a problem with 88 strikeouts in 272 at-bats. He feels like he’s settled down after a slow start.

“I was trying to do too much at the start of the season,” Walcott said. “I figured out that I just really need to play my game.”

He said he’s already figured out to switch his mentality on and off the field, saying he saves his “goofy mindset” for the clubhouse, which actually helps relax him before he takes the field.

That’s where being a younger player on an older team helps, he said.

“My teammates have helped me with that maturity,” Walcott said. “When it comes to locking in for games, they do a really good job helping me with that.”

The appearance in Arlington gave Walcott a little time to rest. The Crawdads, like the Rangers, are on a break until Friday when they host Greensboro.

In time, Walcott hopes to be in Texas for good.